Top Chefs Urge Congress to Protect 40 Million Americans from Hunger

WASHINGTON – As Congress begins debate on food and farm policy, some of the nation’s top chefs gathered on Capitol Hill today to urge lawmakers to protect the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program from budget cuts. Award-winning chefs from celebrated restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities from across the country joined anti-hunger…

WASHINGTON – As Congress begins debate on food and farm policy, some of the nation's top chefs gathered on Capitol Hill today to urge lawmakers to ...

WASHINGTON–As Congress begins debate on food and farm policy, some of the nation’s top chefs gathered on Capitol Hill today to urge lawmakers to protect the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program from budget cuts.

Award-winning chefs from celebrated restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities from across the country joined anti-hunger advocates from the Plate of the Union campaign to rally support for SNAP. More than 40 million low-income Americans, including one in four children, rely on SNAP each day to help put enough food on the table to survive.

SNAP is funded through the federal farm bill, which Congress must reauthorize every five years. The next farm bill is slated to come up for a vote in 2018 and SNAP funding is always a target for deep cuts.

However, even before lawmakers have begun debate over the farm bill, the anti-hunger program has already been targeted by the House Budget Committee. According to key staff, lawmakers on the budget committee will seek to cut SNAP funding this week by $150 billion (more than 20 percent) over the next 10 years.

“Cutting funding from this program is quite simply taking food from the mouths of children,” said chef Tom Colicchio, food advocate and co-founder of Food Policy Action Education Fund. “Today we’re making the case to our elected leaders that they must stand with the millions of families who rely on SNAP to have enough to eat.”

The Plate of the Union campaign is a collaboration between Food Policy Action Education Fund and Environmental Working Group. EWG President Ken Cook, who is also co-founder of FPA-EF, said SNAP is not where budget-cutting lawmakers should look.

“If Congress wants to slash farm bill funding, it should target the billions taxpayers send to mega farm operations in the form of crop and insurance subsidies, not this vital anti-hunger program that helps millions of struggling families put food on the table,” said Cook. “In a country as rich as ours, having enough food to feed yourself and your family shouldn’t be a privilege afforded to only those with means.”

Cook and Colicchio were joined by representatives from the campaign, Food Research Action Network, Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, James Beard Foundation, Patachou Foundation and a number of award-winning chefs, including:

Today, Food Policy Action (FPA​)​ issued the following statement from its Executive Director, Monica Mills, at the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed delay of nutrition facts until 2021 for most small companies. “It is very disappointing to hear that this Administration is delaying more transparent and accurate nutrition labeling requirements–especially around added sugar. As the…

Today, Food Policy Action (FPA​)​ issued the following statement from its Executive Director, Monica Mills, at the Food and Drug Administration's propo...

Today, Food Policy Action (FPA​)​ issued the following statement from its Executive Director, Monica Mills, at the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed delay of nutrition facts until 2021 for most small companies.

“It is very disappointing to hear that this Administration is delaying more transparent and accurate nutrition labeling requirements–especially around added sugar. As the FDA drags its feet on this important issue for consumers it is putting corporate interests ahead of the health of every American. This decision rolls back progress on nutrition that has bipartisan support. All Americans need more transparency about the nutrition of their food–not less. FDA’s decision to delay keeps consumers in the dark about the ingredients and nutrition in their food.

“We urge the FDA to stop bowing to corporate interests at the expense of Americans’ health. We ask Congress to stand up and fight against more rollbacks by this Administration on healthy food policy. We made a promise to America’s consumers to provide more information, not less. Let’s keep that promise.”

Plate of the Union, Award-Winning Chefs to Join Forces Urging Congress to Protect Our Nation’s Most Effective Hunger Alleviation Program

Over 20 leading chefs and anti-hunger advocates from around the country to join Tom Colicchio next Wednesday for advocacy day with lawmakers WASHINGTON – Plate of the Union, a campaign focused on delivering a smarter approach to federal food policy, has enlisted the help the nation’s top chefs to tell lawmakers why protecting our nation’s…

Over 20 leading chefs and anti-hunger advocates from around the country to join Tom Colicchio next Wednesday for advocacy day with lawmakers
WASHINGTON ...

Over 20 leading chefs and anti-hunger advocates from around the country to join Tom Colicchio next Wednesday for advocacy day with lawmakers

WASHINGTON – Plate of the Union, a campaign focused on delivering a smarter approach to federal food policy, has enlisted the help the nation’s top chefs to tell lawmakers why protecting our nation’s most effective hunger alleviation program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, must be a priority as Congress begins debate on the next farm bill.

The Plate of the Union campaign is a collaboration between Food Policy Action Education Fund and Environmental Working Group. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, FPA-EF Co-Founder Tom Colicchio, and EWG President and FPA-EF Co-Founder Ken Cook will be leading chefs in meetings with federal lawmakers to promote improving food policy, strengthening critical nutrition programs, and protecting SNAP.

More than 40 million low-income Americans, including one in four children, rely on SNAP each day to help put enough food on the table to survive. The resources used for the program are a major portion of the farm bill, which Congress must reauthorize every five years, and SNAP funding is always a target for deep cuts.

What: Interview opportunities with award-winning chefs and advocates at Plate of the Union Advocacy Day

Scheduled phone and in-person interviews may be conducted ahead of the event, and the advocacy day Wednesday is open to press. Please contact Betsy Barrett at betsy@foodpolicyation.org, or Alex Formuzis at alex@ewg.org, to set up interviews.

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About Plate of the Union: Plate of the Union (www.plateoftheunion.com) is a collaborative campaign of Food Policy Action Education Fund and Environmental Working Group to bring together consumers and policymakers on key issues affecting the next farm bill.

FPA-EF: Food Policy Action Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization that is a separate sister organization of Food Policy Action. The mission of FPA-EF is to provide a platform for public education and engagement on the impacts of federal policy on the food system.

EWG: The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. EWG’s mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.

Food Policy Action Announces New Executive Director

Seasoned policy strategist and government affairs executive Monica Mills to lead FPA Today, Food Policy Action (FPA) announced that its board has selected Monica Mills as the organization’s new Executive Director. The announcement follows a six-month nationwide search. Mills will be responsible for managing and growing Food Policy Action and Food Policy Action Education Fund…

Seasoned policy strategist and government affairs executive Monica Mills to lead FPA
Today, Food Policy Action (FPA) announced that its board has select...

Seasoned policy strategist and government affairs executive Monica Mills to lead FPA

Today, Food Policy Action (FPA) announced that its board has selected Monica Mills as the organization’s new Executive Director. The announcement follows a six-month nationwide search. Mills will be responsible for managing and growing Food Policy Action and Food Policy Action Education Fund in their advocacy, political and education programs.

“We are extremely excited to have found a new Executive Director with the leadership, poise, and deep food and agriculture experience of Ms. Mills,” said Tom Colicchio, FPA co-founder, food policy advocate and chef. “This is a pivotal time for our food movement and we are confident that Monica can build on FPA’s historic successes and best prepare the organization to meet the enormous challenges ahead to protect and improve our nation’s food and agriculture system.”

Mills brings deep experience in food policy, electoral policy, communications and government affairs. When leading federal food and agriculture policy at Bread for the World as Director of Government Affairs, she was named “Top Grassroots Lobbyist” by The Hill three years in a row. Her organizational and fundraising skills have fostered growth for numerous nonprofit, political and government organizations including the Peace Corp as associate director and at the U.S. Department of Treasury as a senior official. Most recently, Mills graduated in May 2017 from Wesley Theological Seminary having completed her Master’s Degree in Theology.

“Monica is a well-respected warrior in our cause and will take our organization to new heights,” said FPA co-founder and board chair Ken Cook. “Having worked alongside her almost daily throughout the 2008 Farm Bill process in her capacity as Bread for the World’s Director of Government Affairs, I can attest to her policy acumen, coalition-building skills and effectiveness as a policy strategist and operative. We are delighted to have her at the helm of FPA.”

A native of South Dakota, Mills began her career in policy and politics working for Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson.

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Our mission is to highlight the importance of food policy and to promote policies that support healthy diets, reduce hunger at home and abroad, improve food access and affordability, uphold the rights and dignity of food and farm workers, increase transparency, improve public health, reduce the risk of food-borne illness, support local and regional food systems, protect and maintain sustainable fisheries, treat farm animals humanely and reduce the environmental impact of farming and food production. Food Policy Action promotes positive policies through education and publication of the National Food Policy Scorecard.

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Food Policy Action is a 501(c)(4) organization that works to promote a healthy, sustainable food system through public education, issue advocacy, and publication of the National Food Policy Scorecard. Donations to Food Policy Action are not tax-deductible.